Ma`rifat Adyan

The problem of suffering and the quest for liberation from it is one of humanity's fundamental concerns, addressed by the world's major religions and schools of thought. This article provides a comparative and analytical examination of the solutions offered for confronting suffering within the two intellectual traditions of Buddhism and Islam. In the first part, the view of the Buddha, based on the Four Noble Truths, is elaborated. These consist of understanding the truth of suffering, its origin in craving and desire, the possibility of its cessation, and the practical path to liberation, namely the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path, as a path comprising ethical, meditative, and wisdom components, is introduced as Buddhism's primary method for overcoming suffering and attaining enlightenment. In the second part, the approach of Islam is examined, focusing on the factors that reduce and eliminate suffering. These factors are divided into two categories: Doctrinal factors, including faith and piety, worship, hope and trust in God, and belief in the afterlife; and Ethical factors, encompassing virtues such as chastity and purity, honesty and trustworthiness, humility and modesty, humanity (including justice, benevolence, and forgiveness), and individual and social responsibility. By elucidating these two perspectives, this research provides a deeper understanding of the spiritual and ethical strategies for alleviating and transcending suffering within these two religious traditions.